Ben Arfa is in line to make his return to action in Thursday's Europa League clash with Anzhi Makhachkala after recovering from a serious hamstring injury and he has been impressed by the club's January recruits.

The French ace had questioned his future at Newcastle after claiming the team needed to be strengthened in the January transfer window but Ben Arfa now believes the squad is good enough to challenge for honours, starting with the Europa League.

"The squad is better than it was and I'm very happy now because they are very good players," said Ben Arfa.

"They will help our team and we are stronger than before. I was in France when the players were signing, I was happy because I know they are good players, not just because they are French. They have made the team stronger.

"Moussa Sissoko - I know him from France because I played with him in the national team. He is a great player and a lot of big clubs wanted him but he came to Newcastle - that is fantastic for us.

"I hope we can do good things in the Europa League, I hope we can win it.

"It is important we climb the Premier League and not fall into the Championship, but this is also important. This is a chance to win a trophy and that is something the whole squad are excited about.

"It is amazing it has been 44 years since Newcastle won anything. It would be great to write my name in history by winning something, for us as a team to become the one who ended the gap."

ood grief. Someone guessed that the form English player at the moment might be in his national side with some other players? And that's espionage? Now if they discovered that Emile Heskey was going to be in the starting line up.... at right back.... THAT would be espionage. Give it a rest Roy.